Lake Le-aqua-na Dam is an earth dam located in Stephenson County, Illinois, built in 1955. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 680 ft long, taller than 89% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Le-aqua-na Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Le-aqua-na Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Waddams Creek near Lena.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 680 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 47 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,013 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/13/2025.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Stephenson |
| Nearest City | Lena |
| River/Stream | Waddams Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.41865, -89.82858 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 680 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,013 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,013 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 557 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,971 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00137 |
| Federal ID | IL00137 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |